Wrench attachment for hammers



July 15, 1924. 1,501,585

. E. E. CULLEN WRENCH ATTACHMENT FOR HAMMBRS Filed May 29, 1922 ndmtm [ax [575. fuzz/v iii Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED ST TES- 1,501,585 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. CULLEN, OF NEW BALTIMORE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 I GEORGE E. VERNIER, .O'F FAIR HAVEN, MICHIGAN.

WRENCH ATTACHMENT roe HAMMERS.

Application filed, May 29,1922. Serial No. 564,551.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Ennnsr E. CULLEN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at New Baltimore, county of Macomb, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Wrench Attachment for Hammers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, to wrench attach ments for hammers and other tools, and has for its object the provision of a pipe gripping wrench of convenient size and compact construction that can be readily kept in a small drawer, tool kit, etc., and

' which is arranged to be quickly mounted on to the head or claw of an ordinary han1- mer or like tool when desired for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision ofa V-shaped jaw member having teeth on its inner faces inclined to bite into the periphery of a pipe on opposite sides thereof when pressure is applied to the handle of the hammer'to which the jaw member is removably attached.

A further object is the provision of a wrench attachment for hammers and the like of simple and inexpensive construction which will be eflicient and durable in use and readily attached to or removed from the tool with which it is employed.

The above and other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved wrench attachment mounted over the claw portion of an ordinary hammer in position for use in turning pipes or the like;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of my invention mounted with one portion of the wrench in position to wedge between the inclined edge of the hammer claw and the side of the link of the attachment;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my wrench Kattachment secured over the .ball head of an ordinary ball-peen hammer; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:.

Referring now to the drawings my improved wrench attachment is shown as formed with a V-shaped body portion 5 having teeth 6 formed in its inner faces to grip the rounded surface of a pipe or the like which it is desired to turn. Preferably the teeth 6 on the opposed portions of the jaw 5 are inclined so that the dentations will bite into the opposite sides of a pipe surface when the jaw '5 is rotated.

Vith this construction when the hammer head and wrench attachment are turned in theldirection of the arrow in Fig. 1, the teeth 6 on both faces of the jaw will bite Adjacent one extremityv the jaw portion 5 is apertured, .asat 7, for the reception of the ends of a link 8 shaped 'so that it will readily pass over the widened ends of the claw portion 9 of the hammer head 10 and fit snugly within the crotch formed between the claw portion and the handle receiving portion of the hammer head. The body portion 5 of the wrench attachment is thus pivotally mounted upon the link 8 and may be readily swung on such pivot to enclose a pipe, nut, or the like, between the inner jaw faces and the outer extremity of the hammer head. A slight movement of the hammer handle across the pipe or nut will thereupon bind the pipe or nut firmly and further pressure will cause the teeth 6 to bite into the surfaces in engagement therewith. By then rotating the hammer head in the desired direction the pipe or nut may be unscrewed or turned into position. The leverage given by the length of the hammer handle is ordinarily suflicient to tighten or release all the usual sizes of nuts or pipes in common use.

In Figs. 2 and. 3 is shown a modified form wherein the jaw portion 5 is arranged to be more firmly secured upon the hammer head by reason of a wedging engagement of one extremity thereof between the inclined side portion of the hammer claw 9 and the link whereby the jaw portion is held upon the hammer. In this construction the link is formed of side pieces 8 and cross bolts 8 loosely secured. within apertures adjacent the opposite ends of the side pieces 8 The into the opposite-sides of the pipe surface.

the hammer until the innermost 'bolt 8 and jaw portion is adjacent the narrowest portion of the claw 9, whereupon the jaw memher 5 is placed between the side of the claw and the adjacent side member 8 of the link. By then moving the link and jaw member toward the wider portion of the .claw 9 the jaw member 5 may be firmly wedged between the claw and side piece 8 of the linlc; lVith this construction the jaw member 5 may be placed around a pipe or nut and then secured firmly againstthe inclined side of the claw 9 so that there is no possibility of relative movement between the hammer head and wrench attachment while the pipe or nut is being turned.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modification particularly adapted for ba-ll-peen hammers. The jaw portion 5 is substantially identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, but the link 8 is rounded at its bight portion so as to snugly fit in the groove underlyingtheball head of the hammer.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfil the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the inven-' tion is susceptible to variation, modification,

and change within the spirit and scope of the snbjoined claims.

Having described my invention, 1 claim: 1. A device of the character described having a V-shaped body portion provided with teeth on its inner faces. and a link pivotally secured at one extremity to the body portion and formed as a closed loop of sufiicient area to hook over and only exteriorly contact the ordinary hammer head.

2. A device of the character described having a V-shaped body portion provided with teeth on its inner faces respectively inclined toward and away from the apex of the body portion, and means for removably securing the body portion firmly upon a hammer claw, comprising a bolt of greater length than the width of the hammer claw on which one extremity of the body portion is pivoted, a pair of side pieces loosely mounted upon the bolt, and a second bolt connecting the side pieces and spaced from the first-mentioned bolt, the body portion and side pieces exteriorly contacting but bein otherwise unconnected with the hammer claw.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand,

ERNEST E. CULLEN. lVitne-sses REX FRYE,

C. M. CUMMINGS. 

